Hello, my darlings. Those of you who do not like cliffies should thank my children for voting 3 to 1 against a MAJOR cliffhanger. (One just wants to watch the world burn and doesn't care who is in the crossfire.) So, it is a tiny one, more of a foothill really. Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US.
Chapter 20 Birthday Parties
Hermione poured over the available tomes on curses, blood and otherwise. She devoutly hoped the monsters that devised and used these horrors were in the deepest circle of Hell. Cursing the blood caused the victim lethargy, and weakness, both physical and magical. Some were forced into animal shapes more and more often. She found evidence that giving birth caused the curse to accelerate towards the final stages. It boiled her blood. It did not affect male offspring, which apparently was going too far. John Dee, it seemed, shared her disgust. He recorded his own, and others', attempts to alleviate the suffering of these women. They all agreed no counter existed. That blood curses could not be reversed. Hermione refused to accept that. She jotted down ideas and revised the list as new evidence appeared in the books. Without a curse in the beginning or early stages to study everything remained hypothetical. The Library of Alexandria sent Dee's work and the works of a witch known simply as Agnes. Her family lost several members young to one such curse, as women at the time were expected to marry and birth heirs regardless of the increased danger childbirth put them in. Her diaries detailed the symptoms and disease progression of these women in great detail. Reading between the lines, Hermione suspected Agnes suffered the curse herself. Her family's curse caused a wasting sickness instead of animal transformation. Agnes mentioned the illness seemed to speed up after the woman gave birth repeatedly. Hermione wonder if Agnes was the original source of that information. Marcus listened to her describe all of the known variations one afternoon.
"Do you understand any of this?" demanded Adrian, whose own head swam from the detail dump.
"Very little of it," he admitted grinning.
"Then why are you letting her natter on about it?" he demanded.
Marcus shrugged, "She looks adorable when she gets all riled up. She's so small it lures you into this false sense of security, then BAM all that passion spews out."
Adrian rolled his eyes. Hermione frowned, "Don't let me bore you. Tell me to stop."
"You're not. Ades is just annoyed you're smarter than him and it shows."
"Ha, ha," grumbled his friend.
"Notice, he is not disputing you being smarter?" Marcus gave her cheek a peck.
"Please, Malfoy's rants about her grades are legendary. Everyone knows she's intelligent. Listening to her for five minutes tells me she's smarter than me. And she thinks she's discussing things on our level. Which speaks well of her and her thoughts about us. So, thanks." He stood, "But I'm going to leave so you two can snog and stop discussing swotty things."
"Cheers," said Marcus.
Once alone, Hermione looked at him distressed, "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I meant it what I said, little witch. I like listening to you. And you listen to me when I talk about stuff you're less interested in."
She moved closer, "That's true. I do."
He brushed her hair back, "Only fair I listen then, and I might not understand, but you do and that's amazing."
"Fine, but promise you will stop me If I start to bore you."
"If that ever happens I will. Now, it's been three hours since the last time I properly kissed you. We need to remedy that."
"The horror. Have you suffered?"
"Terribly."
She giggled, "Poor baby. Whatever shall we do?"
"You could kiss me?" he suggested.
She pretended to consider the idea, "Hmm, the idea has merit, but that feels like a short term solution. What about in the long run?"
"You keep kissing me as long as you can and the memory will hold me until the next time," he promised. She decided against teasing him further and pressed her lips to his.
She wiggled around during the following kiss until she straddled his lap. His hands roamed her waist and lower back never straying lower than her waistband or higher than her bra. Her own hands wrapped around his neck and played with the ends of his hair. Tentatively she slipped her tongue into his mouth. An action he eagerly copied. She lost track of time as they snogged. Perhaps they stayed like that for a few minutes, maybe hours. Dahlia stomped her feet to announce her presence before entering the room. "Hermione? An owl came for you."
She slid from his lap. "Thank you." She took the note and groaned, "Sirius, no."
"What's wrong?" Marcus asked peering over her shoulder concerned.
"Someone is annoyed we spend our time anywhere but Grimmauld Place. I've been commanded to bring you to dinner. You can say no."
"You spend time with my family, I should spend time with yours. Even the ones you've collected along the way."
"Thank you. I apologize in advance."
"Let me get cleaned up and we can go," he climbed to his feet.
"I'll be right here waiting," she promised.
"And I'll be here keeping her company," chimed in Dahlia. "Take your time."
He rolled his eyes, "I'll be quick."
"Spoilsport," his sister stuck out her tongue. She spoke again after he left. "He really fancies you, you know?"
"I quite like him as well," admitted Hermione.
"Enough that you'd choose him over your friends if they objected?"
Her tone gave Hermione pause. She wondered if Marcus had said something about that concern where Dahlia overheard. She considered the question before answering. "I would listen to concerns. But, yes, I believe I would pick Marcus over baseless prejudice. If they refuse to trust my judgment they aren't my friends."
"I hope I could be that brave."
A smile crept over Hermione's face, "Courage isn't the absence of fear, but the willingness to act despite it. If you want to be brave, you can be. You simply choose it."
"You think so?" Dahlia asked wistfully.
"I know so."
"Felix says I might not be able to be openly friendly with you at school next year."
"But I understand why. We can be as friendly as possible without causing you issues."
Dahlia beamed brightly, "Thanks." She changed the subject to familiars allowed at school and Hermione let her.
Marcus reappeared dressed nicer than Hermione expected, "You know Sirius is incredibly laid back, right?"
"Mum caught me and made me dress up, good impressions and all that."
"She knows you've met right?"
"No. Protecting your privacy and all that."
She swatted him, "Not from your family."
He caught her hand and stepped closer to look down at her, "From everyone. We met at your ritual ceremony, so your actions are my secrets until you declare them." She looked to his sister who nodded her agreement. "We follow the old ways. We follow where you lead."
"Marcus, I want you to be my equal. You don't need my permission to talk about things."
"About you in general, our relationship, you staying with your guardian, where your parents are? All on the table. Druid stuff? Nope, my lips are sealed."
"I'm not going to win this fight am I?"
"You're not," he kissed her forehead. "Sorry, little witch,"
"No, you're not," she sighed. "I'll just have to get over it. Ready?"
"As soon as we grab the plate of biscuits Mum is making. Can't arrive empty-handed."
"You could. He gave you next to no warning. But I get it," grumbled Hermione. "If Remus's dog harasses you, do me a favor and kick it. He has it coming."
Dahlia grinned, "The Blacks are a noble house, Sacred 28 and all. You're a true druid. You're as close to royalty as wizards get. Your guardian invited your boyfriend to dinner. This is a big deal. Mum is probably losing her mind that the only thing we have to send as a host gift is a dessert plate."
"If it was anyone but Sirius I might agree. He hates formalities and all that stuff. But let's go."
Kreacher politely took the biscuits. "Kreacher will bring these to the library. Master asks that you join him there."
"Thank you, Kreacher."
"You be welcome, wise mistress."
They found Sirius and Remus playing Risk at the center table. "We are absolutely not joining you," declared Hermione. "You savages cheat."
"Come on, kitten. Ron's not here. You don't have to be his ally to win."
"Still not happening." She slid into a chair, Marcus sat next to her.
"Flint might want to play," said Remus innocently.
"He does not," she replied primly.
"Lad can speak for himself," Sirius told her. He looked at the younger wizard.
"Um, I'm going to choose to not annoy Hermione. No offense, but while you make me nervous, I've seen her mad."
"Smart boy," praised Sirius.
"Who all will be here for dinner?" she asked changing the subject.
"The four of us, Kingsley Shaklebolt, my cousin Andromeda, her husband, Ted, and their daughter." Sirius looked at Remus when he said daughter. "You remember Auror Tonks?"
"I do."
"She's taken a shine to our Moony here."
"Leave off, Padfoot," growled Remus.
"Does Moony not share her interest?" inquired Hermione.
"He doth protest too much me thinks." Sirius added, "Harry is off with Ron doing boy things. And I decided it was high time your boyfriend came here." His tone became teasing. "Unless you're embarrassed by him?"
"Him? Never. You? Frequently," she quipped. Three of them laughed. Marcus still tense from nerves managed a small smile. "I plan on slow walking my friends to the truth. Unless it ambushes them, then I'll deal with a fallout as it happens."
"How would it ambush anyone?" questioned Remus.
"Marcus's friend, Adrian, tried to surprise him and ended up the one surprised. He's the only one besides Theo Nott that knows about us so far," she explained. "Adrian took it well, I think."
"He had a small freak out the next day," Marcus admitted. "I'm apparently mental for dating a Gryffindor. But he's dramatic like that. He'll survive."
Hermione went upstairs to change for dinner since they would have company and Marcus was dressed nicely. She felt a twinge of guilt for leaving her boyfriend alone with the remaining Marauders. The jovial smiles slid from their faces. "Now that she can't hear us to protest, we do have questions," said Sirius.
"I expected," said Marcus slowly.
"Can we trust you aren't planning to take advantage of Hermione?" he asked, his tone full of dark promises.
"You can. Not that I see how I could."
"You could tell others of her identity," pointed out Remus.
"Then expose your relationship," added Sirius.
"None of these things benefit me, not in the long run. And more importantly, would hurt Hermione. I know people will believe she's far above my station, that they will talk. But she doesn't care. The least I can do is protect her by not making it worse. She has also informed me that the only opinion that matters is hers."
"Good girl," smirked Sirius. "So long as she's happy, we're happy. Her parents entrusted me with the most precious thing in their lives. I fucked up something similar once. Never again."
"I understand. I have no intention of hurting her on purpose. I can't promise not to do something on accident."
"That's fair, I suppose. Good enough for today anyway."
Watching Nymphadora Tonks flirt with Remus while not embarrassing him to the point her mother objected amused Hermione and Sirius. No one but Remus seemed to object to the age difference. And even his protests seemed weak to her. Taking pity on him, Andromeda addressed Marcus, "Your mother was Gwendolyn Selwyn, was she not?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"How many siblings do you have now?" The conversation shifted away from Tonks and Moony to other topics.
Eventually, the adults spoke of the Voldemort matter, as Shaklebolt called it. "Shame Fudge did away with Junior so fast," the tall aurors grumbled, "we could have learned their plans."
"If they intend to bring him back, you mean," quipped Tonks. She froze realizing Marcus's family might not be as entrenched in the light as the rest of them.
"My family doesn't know anything, and wish to stay neutral as long as possible if things head that way again. They aren't wealthy or powerful elite. We just happen to be purebloods in Slytherin families."
"You remember Gwendolyn, don't you?" Andromeda asked Sirius and Remus. "She was the year behind me, so a year ahead of you two."
Remus's face creased in concentration, "I think I do. Tall, long black hair, bright blue eyes, quite smart."
"Quite fetching, as I recall," said Shaklebolt.
"Hell of a figure," finished Sirius.
"How much fun it is hearing how fit your mum is?" Tonks teased Marcus.
"So long as no one dated her and wants to share, I'm good." The table laughed.
"What year are you in?" asked Ted.
"I'll be in 6th year," he answered.
"So, you're a year ahead of Hermione?" clarified Tonks.
"But only a month and change older," Hermione cut in to halt that line of questioning. "His birthday is August 14th and mine is September 19th."
"Speaking of birthdays, I need to see if Harry wants to have a party," remarked Sirius. "Do you want one before you go back to school, kitten?"
She chuckled, "I think I'm good. Hints have been dropped I will have a wild enough time on my birthday." Noticing the look Sirius shot Marcus, she added, "Not with him, with other company."
Remus caught on, "Have a birthday ride planned, then?"
"I believe so. They like celebrating events like that."
Shaklebolt looked at Sirius, Remus, and Hermione, studying each in turn, "I'm missing something, I just don't know what."
"You're not alone," admitted Ted.
"Nothing sinister," promised Sirius. He turned the conversation back to Harry's birthday and trying to convince Hermione she needed some kind of party. She managed to resist.
Augusta Longbottom shared Sirius's desire to celebrate birthdays this summer. The teenage occupants of Grimmauld and the four youngest Weasleys received invitations to the joint celebration for Neville and his cousin, Astoria Greengrass. Ron lamented that her inclusion meant Slytherins would be invited. Hermione rolled her eyes, "And Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. You do realize not every Slytherin is a maniacal despot in the making. Not every Hufflepuff is nice. Justin Finch-Fletchley is a first class git. Not all Ravenclaws are walking reference books. Lisa Turpin's brains leak out her ears when a cute boy looks at her. And not every Gryffindor is a brave hero. Pettigrew betrayed his friends because he was afraid. My point is get over yourself and stop lumping people according to a personality reading hat we wore at eleven."
"What? You want to be best mates with Malfoy suddenly?" sneered Ron.
"Hell no. But Theo Nott, Daphne Greengrass, Adrian Pucey, and others have always been civil. My point is they aren't all evil bullies."
"Don't kid yourself, Hermione, none of them would willingly talk to you. They think you're scum to be stepped on."
"Ron, this is the crap I told you had to stop. I can't control the actions of others. But I cannot tolerate these kinds of attitudes. I'm not saying ignore or allow bullying. You have to stop stereotyping them. Start by talking to the neutral ones and see what happens." He started to protest. "No. I choose a path of inclusion and acceptance of all. I cannot stand by and let you be as prejudiced as they act. Decide how you want to proceed. You can try to change and we stay friends. Or we can step back to being acquaintances. Don't say anything. Your actions will be your true answer." she left the room. Harry and Ron sat in silence watching her go.
"Mental that one," muttered Ron.
"She means it, mate. Hermione's serious about her druid stuff. Even more so than her schoolwork."
Ron rolled his eyes, "She'll get over it." Harry remained quiet. Privately he thought Ron had it completely wrong.
Hermione invited Fleur to help herself and Ginny get ready for the party as neither had been to this kind of pureblood gathering before. "Dress to impress," she advised them. "Nothing too fancy, but nicer than every day." Hermione caught Ginny's panicked look and suggested she borrow something of Hermione's instead of having to go home to find something. Hermione chose a burgundy sundress with a gold cuff bracelet that covered her mark. Fleur instructed Bill to ensure Ron and the twins were properly attired. Hermione knew if they dressed nicely Harry would allow himself to be influenced to dress similarly. The two groups arrived at Longbottom Estates together.
Neville greeted them warmly. "Thanks for coming. The Gryffindor camp of the war is to the left of the garden."
"War?" questioned George.
"Grandmother Brown and Gran are feuding again. Grandmother declared she was going to throw Astoria and me a joint party. So, Gran demanded to host. Both of them seemed to have forgotten we might not have many shared friends. Today is the halfway point between our birthdays, that's why it's so early for me. My friends are to the left, Astoria's are to the right with a no man's land in the center. Refreshment tables have been labeled as neutral territory and all are welcome."
"Well, many happy returns," said Harry.
"We'll try to keep the peace and build bridges," promised Fred. George patted Neville's arm as they passed.
"I'll keep them in line," Hermione assured him.
"Thanks, Mione."
The vast back garden sprawled inside a barrier of trees. Marble benches and a small gazebo decorated the expansive green field. Cultivated bushes and flowerbeds created cascades of color. A handful of adults spoke in polite tones just inside the house. Outside teenagers and a handful of older children, preteens really, congregated in two groups. Hermione recognized faces in both groups. Slytherins and Hufflepuffs seemed to comprise one group, Gryffindors and Ravenclaws the other. Very little mingling occurred between the two. She felt bad for everyone involved. She followed Fred and George to greet their housemates. An ethereal creature dressed in eye-popping bright yellow with a butterbeer bottle cap necklace waved at them. "Luna!" the twins cried in unison.
"Oh, hello," she called.
Fred grinned, "Hermione, this is Luna Lovegood. She lives near us."
"Nice to meet you, Luna."
The girl squeaked. "Hello, wise one," she whispered. "Oh, I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry."
"You're fine," Hermione assured her. "It won't stay a secret too much longer."
"That is true," Luna agreed sagely. "Would you like to be friends?"
"Yes, I think I would. You can never have too many friends. Thank you for asking."
"Lots of people get upset if you just ask. I think it saves time."
"I agree. Have you met Harry?" she waved him over and made introductions. He agreed to also be friends. Hermione left them discussing nargles. Or rather, Luna discussed them, and Harry listened, bemused.
Hermione made her way over to the small refreshment table. Theo, Marcus, and a pale girl stood nearby. She nodded politely to Theo. "Nott."
"Hullo, Granger. Do you know Marcus and Astoria?" he asked respectfully.
"I cannot say I do," she answered in the same tone. Theo made the introductions.
"Hello," said Astoria gently. Marcus nodded at her.
"Happy birthday, Miss Greengrass."
"Thank you. I hope you enjoy yourself."
As if sensing the peaceful parley and feeling the need to squash it Pansy Parkinson sauntered over, "Granger, I thought I smelled something rancid."
"I suggest using a more expensive perfume then," Hermione responded blandly. She didn't look up from the table as she selected a glass of punch.
"I never," swore Parkinson.
"That would also explain unpleasant odors," said Hermione calmly. "This is a party, Parkinson, relax, let your hair down."
"Why are you even here?" demanded the other girl.
"Same as you, I was invited to my friend's party," she answered. "Unlike you, he wants me here. Excuse me, I'm off to enjoy it. Flint, Greengrass, lovely to meet you. Nott, a pleasure as always."
"Don't go, Granger, Pansy was just leaving," said Marcus.
"I wasn't," she started to protest.
"You are," he said flatly. Pansy glared as stomped across to where Malfoy stood. The two pointedly ignored the Gryffindors.
"My apologies, Miss Granger. Our grandmothers lose touch with reality when they start competing.
"I'm not offended easily by the likes of Pansy Parkinson. I wish I could empathize, but my grandparents adore one another. It helps they aren't the least bit like one another, I think."
"Whereas Grandmother and Mrs. Longbottom were cut from the same cloth." She swayed on her feet, "Forgive me, I need to sit."
"Certainly," Hermione smiled.
Theo escorted Astoria to a nearby bench. Marcus looked down at Hermione. "Tori has no idea how helpful she just was. I can't leave you without her looking the poor hostess."
"Don't suffer for good manners on my account," she hid her smile with her cup.
"Minx."
She shrugged, "You like your girlfriends feisty."
"I do," he agreed. He noticed movement behind her and groaned. "Your friends noticed your foray into enemy territory and are coming to save you."
"Then let's be conversing formally. How has your summer been, Flint?"
"Mostly uneventful, sadly. How is yours, Miss Granger?"
"Similar to yours, though I have been staying with my magical guardian as my parents are away on a speaking tour."
"On what?" he asked as Ron, Harry, and Neville reached them.
"Combining homeopathic natural treatment with modern dentistry," she answered.
"Dentistry? That's healers for teeth?" he asked, fully knowing the answer, but wanting to appear politely interested.
"Correct," she smiled.
"I wish we had something like that. Sure magic fixes them faster, but I had to wait until this year to fix mine." He showed her his even smile.
"Not really, muggles frequently have to weight until their adult teeth are in before that can have those things repaired. We're being rude, have you met Harry and Ron?"
"Uh, Weasley and I have met before."
Hermione beamed and addressed Harry. "Harry, meet Marcus Flint. Marcus, meet Harry Potter."
Marcus held out his hand, "Pleased to meet you."
Neville shot Harry a grateful look when Harry shook Marcus's hand. Before the conversation could continue a younger guest burst from the nearby woods,
"DDDAAAPPPPHHHHNNNNEEEEEE!"
Daphne Greengrass rushed forward, "Portia, what's wrong?"
"A-a monster," she wailed. "It attacked us! We ran away but the others got lost."